Adults with Learning Disabilities who have Significant and Complex Needs – Distance Learning (PGDip/MSc) 2018 entry

The PGDip/MSc in Adults with Learning Disabilities are part-time distance learning programmes intended as continuing professional development qualifications for professional staff who wish to be research-practitioners in their current post, or who wish to advance their career through applying evidence-based research in practice.

Applications for 2018 entry for this course have now closed, see which courses are available for the upcoming academic year.

Course type

Postgraduate; leading to a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) or a Master of Science (MSc)

Course dates

The following course dates are for those planning to complete the PGDip/MSc in the minimum time required.  

  • Start date: 1 October 2018
  • End date: 30 September 2019 (PGDip) or 30 September 2020 (MSc)

If you started this programme in 2017, you can find information about 2017 entry on the 2017 page for this course. Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.

Course duration

Minimum one year part time, maximum four years part time (PGDip); minimum two years part time, maximum five years part time (MSc)

Entry requirements

Successful completion of a Postgraduate Certificate in Adults with Learning Disabilities or a Postgraduate Certificate in Adult Support, Protection and Safeguarding at the University of St Andrews or a similar certificate qualification in the area of learning disabilities from a recognised UK Higher Education Institution.

If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.

English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.

The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.

Tuition fees

PG Diploma: £2,160
MSc: £2,160 (upon successful completion of PG Dip)

Application deadline

May for October entry each year. Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes. Places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis to eligible applicants.

Application requirements

  • CV
  • personal statement (500 words)
  • sample of academic written work (2,000 words)
  • two original signed academic or employement references
  • academic transcripts and degree certificates
  • evidence of English language proficiency (required if English is not your first language).

For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.

Discover the University of St Andrews

Watch current students and staff discuss the teaching facilities, research opportunities and student life at Scotland's first university.

Course information

The PGDip/MSc in Adults with Learning Disabilities is a part-time distance learning course run by the School of Psychology and Neuroscience. The Postgraduate Diploma must be completed within one calendar year from October to September. The focus is on research, and students will learn the skills of a research practitioner.

For those progressing on to the MSc, you will spend an additional year researching and writing a 15,000-word dissertation. Students apply the knowledge and research skills gained in the PG Diploma to carry out research that will benefit the quality of service, care and life of adults with learning disabilities.

Highlights

  • The online open learning materials are written in an interactive style and are designed to encourage students to use their own workplace experiences as a basis for new learning and development of research skills.
  • Students have full electronic access to the University of St Andrews library resources, including full text journals and other online resources.

Teaching format

The course is delivered via online modules through the University of St Andrews Dynamic Learning Environment. Students will have access to research publications, electronic databases and the University's library resources.

Over the course of the year, students will take six compulsory modules. It is not possible to enrol for individual modules at the Postgraduate Diploma level. Typically, each module is completed within two months and requires 100 hours of total study time, including completion of assessments. Module teaching materials are delivered online where students will have access to additional reference materials.

Students complete assessments online. The taught modules are continuously assessed through coursework, which students submit online. Coursework assessment includes multiple choice questions, short answer assignments, reference searches, and analysis of published research as well as developing a full research proposal. There is no final exam for the course.

University tutors are available for support via email and telephone.

Further particulars regarding curriculum development.

Modules

Each module typically comprises:

  • guided online teaching and learning materials
  • 100% coursework assessment.

For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2017–2018 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2018 entry.

  • Data Collection and Sampling: introduces key skills and concepts of data collection and sampling including quantitative and qualitative data, surveys and questionnaires, interviews, standardised assessment instruments, observational methods and experimental measurement.
  • Illustrative Studies in Intellectual Disability Research.
  • Intellectual Disability Research: introduces students to the core skills necessary for research in the field of intellectual disability.
  • Quantitative Data Analysis: Fixed Designs: introduces core analysis skills including general design issues, experimental design, the analysis of quantitative data and of single subject data, and graphical presentation.
  • Qualitative Data Analysis: Flexible Designs: introduces qualitative research including grounded theory studies, case study methods, ethnographic studies, analysing qualitative data and reporting qualitative research.
  • Writing a Research Report: teaches skills in research report writing including reporting data from quantitative and qualitative studies, types of reports, organisation and content, referencing and submitting papers for journal publication.

MSc students will spend one additional year researching and writing a 15,000-word research dissertation on a practice-related topic of choice, integrating one area of specialised study with research methodology. Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. A full research proposal is one of the entry requirements for this programme.


The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2018 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.

 

Funding

Recent Graduate Discount
The University of St Andrews offers a 10% discount in postgraduate tuition fees to students who are eligible to graduate or who have graduated from St Andrews within the last three academic years and are starting a postgraduate programme with the University of St Andrews.

Find out more about postgraduate scholarships. 

After the PGDip/MSc

Research degrees

Some graduates from the MSc continue their education by enrolling in suitable PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere.

The Medical Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council offers studentships for PhD research in health, biological and related sciences covering up to four years funding and, in some cases, accommodation fees.

PhD in Psychology

Careers

Graduates from the programme entered or continued their work in a variety of professions or as academics with a link to practice. These roles include:

  • clinical services development manager
  • community care officer
  • deputy nurse manager
  • occupational therapist
  • speech and language therapist
  • senior social worker.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and offers a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.

Contact information

School of Psychology and Neuroscience
University of St Andrews
St Mary's College
South Street
St Andrews
KY16 9JU

Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2157
Email: pgsecpsych@st-andrews.ac.uk

Psychology and Neuroscience website

Policies

Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy.

Curriculum development

As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online. (PDF, 72 KB).

Tuition fees

The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online. (PDF, 84 KB).